Nancy Pelosi to run for minority leader

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi plans to stay in power as minority leader after losing 60 seats and control of the House — a stunning announcement that sets up combat between her two top lieutenants.

Maryland Rep. Steny Hoyer, the majority leader, and South Carolina Rep. Jim Clyburn, the majority whip, are positioning themselves to battle over the post of minority whip. An aide to Rep. John Larson, the caucus chairman, said he will seek another term in that post.

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The flurry of leadership activity on Friday raises the possibility that Democrats will simply discard one leader in the minority, leaving most of their team in place despite electoral losses of historic proportion.

And even though the election rout ended her historic run as speaker, Pelosi was quickly building a coalition of loyal Democrats who will back her stay in power. Republicans, meanwhile, are virtually giddy over the fact that Democrats are now poised to keep both the House and Senate leadership team in the next Congress.

Pelosi told collegues in a letter that "our work is not finished" and announced her plans to the world via Twitter shortly thereafter by posting this message: “Driven by the urgency of creating jobs & protecting [health care reform and Wall Street reform], Social Security & Medicare, I am running for Dem Leader,” Pelosi Tweeted.

For some shell-shocked House Democrats who held on in tough districts Tuesday, Pelosi's decision is a bad dream come true.

It's also a blow to Hoyer, whose base was decimated by Tuesday's electoral tsunami, with more than half the conservative Blue Dog Coalition left in defeat. If Clyburn wins the minority whip job, Hoyer, who had hoped to replace Pelosi as minority leader, would likely be drummed out of leadership. A Democratic aide criticized Pelosi for not working out a deal between Hoyer and Clyburn where they would each drop down a leadership rung before she announced her decision to stay on as minority leader.

"Everyone should have bumped down one step," said the aide, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

But while a handful of moderates might want her gone, Pelosi still has strong support within the liberal base of the caucus, with many who would vote keep her in control. From Thursday night into Friday morning, outside liberal groups such as Daily Kos and Americans United for Change started to lobby for Pelosi, while liberal House Democrats rallied support for her.

“The fact is, Nancy Pelosi is the single most effective member of Congress, period," said Rep. George Miller of California, Pelosi’s closest ally in the House. "She has been attacked and vilified by the right wing because of her effectiveness. But we did not lose seats in this last election because the Republicans attacked her in their negative TV ads. We lost seats primarily because of the 9.6 percent unemployment rate and continued record foreclosures caused by the worst recession since the Great Depression."

The White House issued a noncommittal statement on Pelosi's bid. "The White House does not comment or get involved in leadership elections. But as the president has said before, he appreciates the work of the speaker and the entire House Democratic leadership team who have been great partners in moving the country forward. He looks forward to working with them in the years to come," spokesman Bill Burton said.

Some Democratic lawmakers, speaking on the condition of anonymity, directly blame Pelosi for their losses after Republicans spent tens of millions of dollars tying incumbents to the unpopular speaker in television advertisements.

"All I know was that I was at 55 percent, she was at 20 percent. You do the math," said one embittered Democrat who lost on Tuesday.

She wants to stay to see how the investigations are gonna go and try to cover up her part in the corruption. Her staying may just be the end of her, especially when she gets prosecuted. This woman has made Calif. a laughing stock.

She wants to stay to see how the investigations are gonna go and try to cover up her part in the corruption. Her staying may just be the end of her, especially when she gets prosecuted. This woman has made Calif. a laughing stock.

Who cares if she stays. Only the wacko liberals are left in the house anyways. The GOP has the votes to pass a National House Throw Rotten Tomatoes at Pelosi day if they want. Should be their first piece of legislation. Any moderate Dems would probably jump in on that.

Pelosi is selfish. Everyone in America knows she shouldn't be the face of the Party except for her and the people around her. What a disgrace. What a shame. Why is she going to put the Party through a fight like this? No good can become of this.

The Party cannot recover until those who are perceived negatively step aside.

Democrats acroos the country including me wrote our representatives s to keep her. Nacy Pelos is teh best leader the House has had in decades. She is an excellent leader, she knows how to get the votes, and is not afraid to stand up the OLD BOYS club. Democrats should not cave to the radical right TEA Party demonizing of her. The Tea Party may be threatening the republican leadership,but they shouldnot be allowed to have influence on Democrats. Stand strong an FIGHT them with Nancy!!!